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A Celebration and a Resource
for the Irish Pub Community
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Rebirth and Reclamation on the Roads Less Traveled |
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“…and I can well believe that all wanderers gladly stopped to board
and bait at this hospitable tavern. For I know nothing more attractive,
under the notion of an inn, than this old tavern must have been…”
From Stagecoach and Tavern Days by Alice Morse Earl |
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I was just coming of age at the time that President Eisenhower’s
vision of a national system of highways, that would rival the autobahns
of Germany, was nearing its completion. And for a good portion of my
teenage years, by way of thumb, or my ever trusty 64 Dodge Dart, I would
explore New England and the American west via these marvelous high
speed expressways. It was only with the passing of time that I would
come to understand that these convenient connections to the present were
creating a quick disconnect to our past. In my own home state of New
Jersey, unless utilized to frequent a suburban strip mall or quell our
insatiable need for shakes and fries, old U.S. Route 46 gave up the
majority of its traffic to Interstate 80. The rural reaches of that well
constructed poured concrete highway would begin to give back much of
its 20th century commerce to nature. Former family campgrounds would
become overgrown, and mammals with a preference for something other than
Schlitz and shuffleboard would find shelter in the abandoned roadside
taverns.
This is certainly not a new occurrence in the ongoing development of our country. The altered paths of travel and transport, and the incorporation of the various means of conveyance have in many instances meant the demise of entire communities. While often a painful process for those caught up in the transformation, for the most part, those changes have served the progress and economic needs of the nation well. But being to some extent a student of history, I am often dismayed by the prospect of severing those fragile links to our beginnings. For I firmly believe that in order to understand where we are, or where we are possible heading, we need to understand where we’ve been. And without those preserved touchstones from the past our journey becomes nothing more than an ungrounded reaction to the present. So I am always at the ready to seek out and experience those few remaining historic publicly licensed properties that have survived within the original footprint of colonial America. |
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| Recently that pursuit was abundantly rewarded by an afternoon of good drink and conversation at the Jamison Publick House
in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Tucked away in a peaceful village in the
northwest corner of Bucks County, this magnificent structure was
recently restored to its former beauty by the Jamison Family, and their
team of dedicated and extremely gifted craftsmen. The only word that can
be used to describe the results of their labors is “Perfect.” |
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Though in the past I’ve hurled like praises on comparable
restorations, this work stands apart from any other property that we
have visited to date. In most instances, those other taverns and inns
attempted to pay tribute to our perception of the past, while at the
same time endeavoring to offer those present day amenities that many
customers find necessary in order to enjoy their time away from home. As
for myself, I find it virtually impossible to capture a sense of our
actual history, or the wisdom of the founders while being surrounded by
colonial kitsch—and having my senses assaulted by the assorted political
pundits on the oversized flat screen above the margarita machine.
Although, I must admit that I was quite pleased to discover a modern tap
system that provided an outstanding selection of lagers, pilsners and
ales. But even this concession to the 21st century was discretely housed
beneath the bar—leaving one’s eye with only an exquisite study in wood
and stone.
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There is a genuine serenity to the Jamison Publick House. And at
this significant crossroads in our nation’s history one can easily
reflect upon those people and events that shaped the republic. Within
these walls words were spoke that would help to inspire the founding of a
new country. And many a patron of this old tavern would serve that
cause, and those future causes that would protect, preserve and
strengthen the American vision. It is now our charge to build upon the
dream that so many of our citizens sacrificed their lives and
livelihoods for. And with the appropriate amount of serious
contemplation, meaningful communication and virtuous company while
raising a few choice brews—we might just have a shot at rebirth and
reclamation on a road less traveled.
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| Home Podcasts Tithe
Tábhairn Pubs Seisiún Footie About
us Contact us |
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